Millions of U.S. adults would choose chiropractic care first to treat neck or back pain, according to a 2014 nationwide survey. The Gallup-Palmer report revealed 57% of all U.S. adults believe in the effectiveness of treatment and are likely to visit a chiropractor. Over 50% of adults have visited a chiropractic doctor in the past, and over 25% would choose a chiropractor over any other type of doctor if they experienced back or neck pain. The nationally representative survey, commissioned by the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa, also found that more adults are seeking chiropractic treatment than previously estimated. The survey found that 33.6 million Americans visited a chiropractor in 2014, up from the 2012 estimate of 20.6 million Americans. Chiropractic care takes a trained, conservative approach to the treatment of neuromusculoskeltal concerns, limiting the need for prescription painkillers or surgery. However, about four in ten U.S. adults reported concerns about cost, and nearly half did not know whether their insurance plan covered chiropractic services. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), numerous recent studies refute these misconceptions. The ACA reports that chiropractic care is at least partially covered by most insurance plans and is considered a cost-effective form of treatment for back and neck pain.

Children may not know the difference between "good" and "bad" cholesterol, but both parents and children should understand that habits formed in childhood could have lasting effects on their health. A recent study found that children who lowered their intake of sugary drinks by at least one serving per week over a 12-month period increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as the good cholesterol that supports heart health. The yearlong study, performed by researchers at Tufts University in Boston, gathered results from 690 children in the area, with 380 completed questionnaire responses by the twelfth month. The 690 preliminary questionnaires were given to children between ages 8 and 15, 85% of who stated they had consumed sugary beverages such as sodas, fruit juices and sweet tea over the past week. Nearly 20% reported consuming at least one sugary beverage each day. The study found that older children and those with a lower socioeconomic background tended to consume more sugary beverages. The children who drank sweetened beverages tended to consume more total calories, but fewer fruits and vegetables, and be more sedentary. Other studies have suggested that decreasing sugar intake in adults can also lower triglyceride levels, which is a contributing cause of heart disease.

Advanced screening for diabetes has helped detect cases early on, but new research suggests that over a third of cases in adults still go undiagnosed. A team of researchers led by Andy Menke at Social and Scientific Systems in Maryland studied National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1988-2010 and 2011-2012. About one in nine adults has been diagnosed with diabetes, which, according to the World Health Organization, will be the seventh-leading cause of death by 2030. Untreated diabetes can lead to a myriad of health problems, including nerve damage, amputations, strokes and heart disease. Blood tests help detect diabetes by tracking average blood sugar levels and calculating the percentage of hemoglobin that is coated with sugar. Despite the availability of these tests, researchers state that more than half of cases in Hispanic and Asian individuals go undetected. Could better education be the key to early detection of diabetes and pre-diabetes? Risk factors include obesity and family history of the disease. Although research indicated that fewer individuals are undiagnosed now than in the past, individuals who are considered high-risk should be screened earlier and more often.